Thunder in the East (album)

Thunder in the East
Studio album by Loudness
Released	21 January 1985 9 June 1985
Recorded	Sound City Studios, Los Angeles, California, USA, September–October 1984
Genre	Heavy metal
Length	41:26
Label	Nippon Columbia (Japan) ATCO (U.S.A.) Music for Nations/Roadrunner (Europe)
Producer	Max Norman
Loudness chronology
Odin EP (1985) Thunder in the East (1985) Lightning Strikes (1986)
Japanese edition cover
Singles from Thunder in the East
"Crazy Nights / Like Hell" Released: 1 November 1985 (U.S.)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]

Thunder in the East is the fifth studio album by Japanese heavy metal band Loudness, and the first released by a major American label after the contract signed with Atco Records, then a subsidiary of Atlantic Records. Aside from being the band's first all-English release, it is the first Loudness album produced by Max Norman, who also produced the album Lightning Strikes in 1986 and the album Soldier of Fortune in 1989. Thunder in the East features the single "Crazy Nights", Loudness' biggest hit in America, and the power ballad "Never Change Your Mind".^[1] This album marked the first time a Japanese band entered the US Top 100 chart, where it remained for 23 weeks, peaking at No. 74.^[2]

The album cover introduced the band's signature logo, which would be used in majority of their discography. The Rising Sun background would also be used in the band's albums Breaking the Taboo and The Sun Will Rise Again.

Track listing

All lyrics by Minoru Niihara and all music by Akira Takasaki, except "Heavy Chains" lyrics and music by Masayoshi Yamashita

1. "Crazy Nights" - 4:04^[3]
2. "Like Hell" - 3:44
3. "Heavy Chains" - 4:18
4. "Get Away" - 3:53
5. "We Could Be Together" - 4:35
6. "Run for Your Life" - 3:59
7. "Clockwork Toy" - 3:55
8. "No Way Out" - 4:01
9. "The Lines Are Down" - 4:57
10. "Never Change Your Mind" - 4:09

Remastered CD reissue 2005 bonus tracks

• "Gotta Fight" - 3:46
• "Odin" - 5:16

Personnel

Band members

• Minoru Niihara - vocals
• Akira Takasaki - guitars
• Masayoshi Yamashita - bass
• Munetaka Higuchi - drums

Production

• Max Norman - producer
• Bill Freesh - engineer
• Bernie Grundman - mastering

References

1. Rivadavia, Eduardo. "Loudness Thunder in the East review". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2011-07-13.
2. "Thunder in the East - Loudness". Billboard. 1998. Retrieved 28 March 2010.
3. "Loudness - Thunder in the East". Encyclopaedia Metallum. Retrieved 28 March 2010.